Rick Ibaseta

Muck Mouth x New Deal Interview

Where are you living today, and what is your current job?
I still live in San Francisco and work at a photo studio. Building sets, grip, lighting and such. Boring stuff.

When was your favorite era in skateboarding?
It would definitely have to be the late 80s to early 90s simply because Natas, Tommy and Gonz lead the way. Combine that with the music that was emerging at the time. Witnessing my peers progress, take the joint and pass it to the next.

Who was your first sponsor, and how did you get hooked up?
FTC skate shop on Bush Street. Crazy original team with Mike & Greg Carroll, Jovontae Turner and little Nick Lockman. Kent had a jump ramp session to start a team. I wasn’t there but somehow I got on. He would give us two boards and a pair of shoes a month. Shout out to Kent, thank you.

Then Thunder and Spitfire. Spitfire was brand new. Shout out to the man Shrewgy. Came home from school one day there was a Deluxe box full of everything. Thanks blood.

My first board sponsor was Shut Skates out of NYC. My friend Coco Santiago skated for them and got me on the team. Shout out to Rodney Smith and Bruno Musso. Thank you.

Who is your favorite skater of all time?
Mark Gonzales on anything. Chris Miller in Upland. Christian Hosoi in any pool.

How much, if at all, are you still skating?
Yes I skate as much as I can when I can. It’s who we are. I’d go insane if I didn’t eat concrete.

Do you still follow skateboarding - even if it is just browsing YouTube/Instagram?
All the time, hard to keep up though. So many rippers. Keep 'em coming.

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SPECIFICALLY REGARDING YOUR TIME ON  NEW DEAL...

How did you get on New Deal? How long were you on, and were you pro or amateur?
Danny Sargent got me on from the start. Thought I was getting on Schmitt Stix. It was official on Earth Day 1990, Chrissy field in SF while Devo was playing in the rain.

Was on for about two years then Andy Howell, Chris Hall and I split to start Underworld Element.

Which of the videos you were in?
Promo/Useless Wooden Toys/1281

What was your favorite video part of yours, and what was your favorite part ?
Probably 1281. Music worked well. Still get asked about it. Ali Mills and Chris Hall’s part along with Sargent.

Best thing about riding for New Deal?
They gave us the opportunity to skate the world over. Meet amazing people throughout, and to this day because of skateboarding, still remain friends.

Worst thing about riding for New Deal.
Nothing really. It was like being in a relationship without fighting. Nothing bad about it, was just awkward at times.

Who was your favorite skater on the team and why?
Danny Sargent - so gnar, and Bustin Justin Girard - so good at everything.

Tell us something about New Deal that most people do not know?
I think everyone knows about New Deal. Roosevelt. Government programs, regulations and public works projects during the depression.

What do you think about New Deal coming back?
I guess it’s pretty strange and cool at the same time. I’d like to try one of their boards.

Tell us some cool shit from the EMB days at Embarcadero. A story we haven't heard
We’re all sitting there thinking about the cops coming and chasing us out of the bricks. When I thought no one else goes through what us skateboarders go through. How skating was outlaw style. We go out and skate what we wanted when we wanted. Then a guy from the sky lands in the middle of the bricks and runs for a bit. Turns around and starts gathering and pulling his parachute as he was running cause the cops were on their way. He jumps in a waiting car and was gone before the cops got there. We all just watched him base jump off Embarcadero 4 and he pulled it. It was like a Simpsons episode. Like this one.

Riders 1990-1992